Wire reel for magnetic wire recorders



J1me 1953 H. L. RUMSEY ETAL 2,641,420

WIRE REEL FOR MAGNETIC WIRE RECORDERS Filed April 16, 1949 1/ IN V ENTORS.

/lawanz L. Ramsey Patented June 9, 1953 WIRE REEL FOR MAGNETIC WIRERECORDERS Howard L. Rumsey, Buffalo, N. Y., and Matthew 0. Abbott,Greenwood, Mass., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Sylvania ElectricProducts Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication April 16, 1949, Serial No. 87,864

9 Claims. (01. 242-118) The present invention relates to magnetic wirerecorders and, particularly, to a reel for temporarily or permanentlystoring a long and continuous length of partially used magneticrecording wire. In greater particular, the invention relates to a wirereel so constructed that two reels, having a continuous length ofrecording wire wound upon both thereof, may be easily and convenientlyassembled in nested relation for removal from the recorder either as atemporary measure or for storage purposes.

Magnetic wire recorders conventionally are pro vided with two spindles,one to receive a storage reel normally loaded with a large number ofturns of magnetic wire and the other to receive a take-up reel uponwhich the wire is wound during the normal recording or play-backoperation. The wire in moving from the storage reel to the take-up reelpasses across the pole shoes of a recording and play-back head structurewhich effects recording of sound upon the wire or which enablesreproduction of sound previously recorded on the wire.

The magnetic wire conventionally used for recording purposes is of steeland has a very small diameter usually of the order of a few thousandthsof an inch. A length of wire at least several thousand feet long isusually used to provide a minimum recording or play-back interval notless than one-half hour long. It frequently is desirable, however, tostop a recording or a play-back operation before the end of therecording Wire is reached in order that the operation may be continuedby use of another length of recording wire. This has heretofore usuallyrequired that the partially used length of wire be entirely rewound uponthe storage reel.

To avoid the need for completely rewinding a partially used length ofrecording wire, it has heretofore been proposed that the storage andtake-up reels be mounted in a magazine type of structure which permitsboth reels to be simultaneously placed upon or removed from therecorder. Since the storage and take-up reels are spaced some littledistance apart in their normal operative positions on a conventionalwire recorder, this magazine structure has the disadvantage that itsphysical bulk is necessarily much larger than desirable. Additionally,the

spring-like quality of the recording wire makes it necessary to provideat each reel some arrangement for automatically locking the reel againstangular rotation upon removal of the magazine from the recorder. This,of course, complicates the magazine structure, tends to reduce thereliability of its operation, and undesirably adds to the cost of analready costly structure.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a newand improved wire reel which enables the removal of a partially used recording wire from a recorder and yet one which avoids one or more of thedisadvantages and limitations of arrangements heretofore proposed forthis purpose. 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel wire reel,for amagnetic wire recorder, which permits removal from the recorder ofa partially used wire without thenece'ssity of breaking the wire or ofrewinding it upon the storage reel, while at the same time providing areel of simple and inexpensive structure having a minimum of physicalbulk. j

In accordance with the invention,a*takeup wire reel for amagnetie wirerecorder comprises a disc-like reel having 'a circumferential "groove toreceive a multiplicity of turns ormag'nenc wire, the reel having in oneface thereof an annular depression to receive a storage reel of smallerdiameter. The depression in the takeup reel has a centrally positionedhub which'receives a centrally positioned bore of the storage reel whenthe latter is positioned within the depression in nested relation withthe take-up reel. The take-up reel has in the one face thereof aplurality of grooves angularly extending from the periphery of thetake-up reel to its annular depression to receive and anchor a length ofun'jbroken wire wound upon both of the reels. The take-up reel also isprovided with a spring-biased member for frictionally engaging thesurfaceiof thev bore of the storage reel, when the latter is in nestedrelation with the take-up reel to restrain the tendency of the wire whenwound taut between the reels to cause relative angular'ro tation of thereels in the nested relation.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is had to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates in plan view a wirereel embodying the invention in such form that the reel is also suitablefor use as the turntable of a phonograph mechanism; Fig. 2 is apartially cross-sectioned elevational view illustrating certain detailsof construction of the Fig. 1 reel; and Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailview illustrating the .configuration .oftheznotches of the Fig. 11rel.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, thereis illustrated only a portion of the magnetic Wire recorder; namely, itsspindle I and turntable II for zpositioningiani'l rotary supporting atake-up reel I2. The reel [2 is of disc-like configuration and has a.circumferential groove I3 for receiving .amiiltiplicity of turns ofmagnetic wire I4 whichjs supplied to the take-up reel, duringnormaleoperationlof the recorder, from a storage reel I5 which is hereshown as having been removed from the storage-v reel spindle of therecorder. The take-up -reel I2 has a central orifice I6 to receive the:spindle I0 of the recorder.

In using .a magnetic recorder, it has been pointed out above that.it.'frequently is desirable to terminate the record or play-backoperation after only aportionof the wire from .the storage reel has beenwound upon .the take-up :reel L2. .In these situations, 'it .is thepurpose of the .present invention .to .avoid the necessity .of rewindingthe Wire upon the storage reel I5 in order that -.this.reel .of wiremaylee-replaced by another which .it ;is desired .to .use. To this end, the:inventioncontemplates that the take-up ree'l shall have provision .forassembling the storage-and take-up reels .innested relation in orderthat they maylbemeadily .remoizedfrom the. magnetic recorder either fora temporary period .or for.-storage ,purposes. .As illustrative of asuit- .able 'construction for this purpose, .an .anmilar depression ll]is formed in the upper face of the :take-up .reel 12 and providesadjacent the orifice I .6 a:concentric cylindricallsurface .or hub I8.to receive a centrally positioned .bore [9 of the-storage .reel 15 whenthe latteris .positioned within the depression 1:! in nestedrelationwith the take-up .reel 42.

The take-up reel 12 also has .in its upper .face a plurality -.ofgrooves vor notches .20., each .-arranged at an .angle to a radius .ofthe take-up reel and extending from the periphery of the take-up reel.to its annular depression .IZI, to .re- .ceive and anchoralength-oftheunbroken wire .I-d wound upon both the storagereel .L5 and thetake-up reel I2. indicated .more .clearly by the fragmentarydetail yiewoflFig. .3, 1each oflthe notches has smoothly .fiared ends With the.radius .of curvature .of the flared portion .much rlarger than thediameter of the wire "HI. This large radius .of curvature avoids theformation .of any ,permanent bend or .set in the .magnetic wire I 4whichwouldlothervwiseibe.producedshould the wire :be bent at such .asharp angle as to exceed its elastic limit. Each .notch I21) preferlably.--has -.a triangular cross-sectional configuration .to facilitatepositioning of the wire lI4 .in a selectedxnotehandthe removal of thewire therefrom.

The take-up reel .LZ also :includes .means for engaging .the "storage'reel I5 when the latter is in nested relation with the take-up .reelvto -restrain the t-end'ency of the wire I4 to wcause relativaeangularrotation of thelreels intheirnested 4 relation. This means comprises amember or shoe 22 which extends through an aperture 24 in a wall of thehub I8 and is affixed to a splitring type of spring member 23 used tobias the member 22 into frictional engagement with the surface of thebore I9 of the storage reel It.

The take-up reel I2 is illustrated as suitable for use as the turntableof a phonograph mechanism. To this end, the upper surface of the reel l2.between .the grooves .20 .is covered with felt orsa suitable"fiocculent material 25 cemented to the surface of the reel inconventional manner.

In operation, assume that the storage reel I5 and the take-up reel I2are initially positioned imoperativeirelation on a magnetic recorder,that -a recording or play-back operation is interrupted (at .a time whenthe wire I4 is partially wound .upon both .of the reels I2 and I5, andthat it isldesired to remove the wire for storage 01' for exchange.forsalnew supply of wire. The storage reel L5 is first memoved from itsspindle of the 1'eoorder ..and.is then inserted on the hub E8 of thetake-up reel f 2 to lie in nested relation with the flatter, the wire I4being manually grasped and pulled out in a taut loop between the reelsJ2 .and .15 .during this operation. The reel I5 is-next manuallyrotated-totakeup the wire of the .loop last mentioned, thus ultimatelyto -position the wire M .in .oneof the grooves-or notches .20 with thewire stretched tautly-hetween the reels t2 and I5. The .wire, being ofsteel, tends to rotate -the-:storage.-.reel relative to the reel 4'2like 'a clock-spring mechanism .but is restrained trom doing so by thefrictional engagement between the 'member :22 and the inner-.-surface-.of the bore t9 -.of the spool 4-5. At .the :same time, themember 22 :keeps the storage reel 15 from slipping off .the hub 4/8 .ofthe take-up reel 112. lI-he reels .-I2.-and 5 may thereafter be'liftedas :a-unitary structure from thespindle I Band turntable -I I ofthe recorder to be placed temporarily aside :or to fee stored away. Thewire is sub .sequently xreturned tovservie on the recorder ;by reversingthe order =of the operations last :described.

It will zbe apparent from the foregoing :de- .scriptionmf 213126invention that ."a wire :reel "embodying the invention is of simple andinexpensive construction and that :it -.readilyi permits theinterruption of the wire-transfer operation .of a :zmagnetic recorder atany time and the re- :moval .of xboth the storage and take-up reels forstorage or exchange :for arnew pair'of zreels. At the same time, thewire-whichispartially Wound uponzboth'of the. reels :is :firmly retained.in place thereon.

While :there has .been :described What is at present considered to :beithe preferred embodi 'ment of this :invention, it will ?be obvious tothose skilledrin the 'art that various changes and modifications may hemade therein Without .de-. parting :from the invention, and it :is,there'- ioreeimed inithe appended :claims to sgcover all such changesand modifications as tall within the trueispirit-and:scopeoftheinvention.

What .claimed is:

LA wire reel :for 1a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle .forpositioning and. rotatably supporting (the reel, comprising:a'disc-lilre'reel having a circumferential groove to receive amultiplicity of-turns of magnetic wire, a central orifice #to meceiveESE/id spindle, and 'a concentric surface to receive and position asecond wire reel in assembled concentric relation with said first.yreel; said zfirst .reel also :having ;a notched .5 surface *to receiveand anchor a length of unbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; andmeans carried by said first reel for engaging said second reel when saidreels are in said assembled relation to restrain the tendency of saidwirev to cause relative angular rotation of said reels in said assembledrelation.

2. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire, a central orifice to receive said spindle, and aconcentric cylindrical surface to receive a centrally positioned bore ofa second wire reel to position said second reel in assembled concentricrelation with said first reel; said first reel also having a notchedsurface to receive and anchor a length of unbroken wire wound upon bothof said reels; and means carried by said first reel for engaging saidsecond reel when said reels are in said assembled relation to restrainthe tendency of said wire to cause relative angular rotation of saidreels in said assembled relation.

3. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire, a central orifice to receive said. spindle, and aconcentric surface to receive and position a second wire reel inassembled concentric relation with said first reel; said first reel alsohaving a notched surface to receive and anchor a length of unbroken wirewound upon both of said reels; and a springbiased member carried by saidfirst reel for frictionally engaging said second reel when said reelsare in said assembled relation to restrain the tendency of said wire tocause relative angular rotation of said reels in said assembledrelation.

4. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire and a central orifice to receive said spindle, saidreel having in one face thereof an annular depression to receive asecond wire reel of smaller diameter than said first reel and alsohaving in said one face thereof at least one notch extending from theperiphery of said first reel to said annular depression to receive andanchor a length of unbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; andmeans carried by said first reel for engaging said second reel when saidsecond reel is positioned in said depression to restrain the tendency ofsaid wire when wound taut between said reels to cause relative angularrotation thereof.

5. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire and a central orifice to receive said spindle, saidreel having in one face thereof an annular depression to receive asecond wire reel of smaller diameter than said first reel and alsohaving in said one face thereof at least one notch extending from theperiphery of said first reel to said annular depression to receive andanchor a length of unbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; and aspring-biased member carried by said first reel for frictionallyengaging said second reel when said second reel is positioned in saiddepression to restrain the tendency of said wire when wound taut betweensaid reels to cause relativeangular. rotation thereof. 6. A'wire reelfor a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle for positioning androtatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-like reel having acircumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turns of magneticwire and a central orifice to-receive said spindla'sa'id reel having inone face thereof an annular depression'to receive a second wire reel ofsmaller diameter than said first reel and also having in said one facethereof at least one notch extending at an angle to a radius from theperiphery of said first reel to said annular depression to receive andanchor a length-of unbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; andmeans carried by said first reel for engaging said second reel when saidsecond reel is positioned in said depression to restrain the tendency ofsaid wire when wound taut between said reels to cause relative angularrotation thereof.

'7. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recording, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire and a central orifice to receive said spindle, saidreel having in one face thereof an annular depression to receive asecond wire reel of smaller diameter than said first reel and alsohaving in said one face thereof at least one notch extending from theperiphery of said first reel to said annular depression to receive andanchor a length of unbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; eachsaid notch having smoothly flared ends of radius of curvature muchlarger than the diameter of said wire; and means carried by said firstreel for engaging said second reel when said second reel is positionedin said depression to restrain the tendency of said wire when wound tautbetween said reels to cause relative angular rotation thereof.

8. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire and having a central orifice to receive said spindle,said reel having in one face thereof an annular depression providingadjacent said orifice a concentric cylindrical surface to receive acentrally positioned bore of a smaller-diameter second wire reel whensaid second reel is positioned within said depression in nested relationwith said first reel, said first reel also having in said one facethereof at least one groove extending from the periphery of said firstreel to said annular depression to receive and anchor-a length ofunbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; and means carried by saidfirst reel for engaging said second reel when said second reel is insaid nested relation with said first reel to restrain the tendency ofsaid wire to cause relative angular rotation of said reels in saidnested relation.

9. A wire reel for a magnetic-wire recorder, having a spindle forpositioning and rotatably supporting the reel, comprising: a disc-likereel having a circumferential groove to receive a multiplicity of turnsof magnetic wire and having a central orifice to receive said spindle,said reel having in one face thereof an annular depression providingadjacent said orifice a concentric cylindrical surface to receive acentrally positioned bore of a smaller-diameter second wire reel whensaid second reel is positioned within annular depression to receive andanchor a length. of unbroken wire wound upon both of said reels; and aspring-biased member carried by said first reel ,for frictionallyengaging the surface of the bore of said-second reel when said secondreel is in said nested relation with said first reel to restrain thetendency of said wire when wound taut between said reels to causerelative angular rotation of said reels in said nested relation.

I HOWARD L. .RUMSEY.

MATTHEW C. ABBOTT.

References-Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date Corlett Sept. 12, 1933 Weiss July 7, 1942 Barrett Sept.30, 1947 Shrader Mar. 1, 1949 Wade Sept. 2'7, 1949

